The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 1 — Section 211

EXPOSITION. the scent of water it will bud, and bring CHAPTER XL forth boughs like a plant"). " The stem of Vers. 1-9.-A RENEWED PROPHECY OF Jesse" must mean the house of David, for lllESsIAH Al\'D OF ms Kl:NGDOM. This chapter there is but one Jesse (lBhai) in Scripture- i;; closely connected with the preceding. David's father. A Bra.noh shall .grow out of his roots. That which is at first a sapling With the final destruction of A.ssvria, which, gains strength and grows into a " branch " being cut down, sends ont no ;hoot (eh. x. (see eh. iv. 2, where the word used, though 33, 34), is contrasted the recuperative energy different, is synonymous). . of Israel, whlch, though equally levelled Ver. 2.-The Spirit of the Lord ■hall rest with the ground (eh. ix. 18, 19), shall spring upon him (comp. Matt. iii. 16; Luke ii. 40; iv. I, 14, 18; John iii. 34, etc.). The afresh into life, and " renew its youth." human nature of our Lord required, and The recovery is connected-or rather identi- received abundantly, the sanctifying and fied-with the coming of Messiah, whose enlightening influences of the Holy Spirit. character is beautifully portrayed (vers. These influences were not in him transient 2-5). An elaborate description of Messiah's or occasional, as in too many men, who kingdom follows (vers. 6-10)-an expansion more or less "resist the Spirit," but perma- nent and enduring. They "rested upon" of the briefer one in eh. ii 3, 4. him; from fust to last never quitted, and Ver. !.-There shall come forth a rod out never will quit, him. The spirit of wisdom of the stem of 1esse. The bla.sted aud ruined and understanding. The influences of the "ster11" or stock of Jesse, cut dowu, and fur Holy Spirit are manifold, affecting the age, hidden from sight, shall suddenly put entire complex nature of man (se.(! I Cor. forth a sprout-a young green sapling, xii. 8-11). Here, three pairs of graces are tender yet vigorous, weak seemingly, yet set forth as specially manifested in the full of life (comp. Job xiv. 7-9, "There is Messiah through the power of the Spirit: hope of a tree, if it he cut down, that it will (I) "Wisdom and understanding," or intel- ~1,rout again, and that the tender branch lectual and more.I apprehension ( ,/nruv«rCa), t li(,reof will not et:o.se. Thougli the root the ability to perceive moral anll abstract tl,eroof wax old in the earth, and the truth; (2) "counsel and might," or the stock thereof die in the ground; yet through power at once to scheme and origino.te, amt ()ll. XI. 1--16.) THE BOOK OF THE PROPHt<:T ISAIAH. 203